English · KJV
H6533

פָּרַם

pâram /paw-ram'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto tear
KJV usagerend.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pâram — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pâram, represented by H6533, is a primitive root meaning to tear or rend. It is a specific and rare term, appearing only 3 times in 3 unique verses within the scriptures, each instance occurring in the book of Leviticus.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6533 is exclusively applied to the tearing of clothes as a ritualistic or prohibited act. It is first commanded as a sign for a leper, whose clothes "shall be rent" to visibly mark their unclean status Leviticus 13:45. Conversely, it is used twice as a prohibition for the priesthood. The high priest is explicitly forbidden to rend his clothes, setting him apart from common expressions of mourning Leviticus 21:10. Similarly, Moses commands Aaron and his sons not to rend their garments after the judgment of the LORD, to avoid divine wrath and their own death, even while the rest of Israel was permitted to mourn Leviticus 10:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the legal and ceremonial context of H6533:

  • H899 beged (apparel, cloth(-es, ing)): This is the object that is rent in all three occurrences of H6533. The state of one's garments was a powerful symbol of their spiritual and social condition (Leviticus 13:45, Leviticus 21:10).
  • H6544 pâraʻ (uncover, refuse): This word appears in direct parallel with H6533 in all three verses. The leper's head must be bare Leviticus 13:45, while the priests are commanded not to uncover their heads nor rend their clothes, reinforcing the link between these two symbolic acts (Leviticus 10:6, Leviticus 21:10).
  • H3548 kôhên (priest): The prohibitions against rending clothes are specifically directed at the priest, establishing the unique requirements of holiness for those who minister before the LORD Leviticus 21:10.
  • H1058 bâkâh (to weep; bemoan; bewail): In contrast to the priests who were forbidden from rending their clothes, the people of Israel were instructed to bewail the judgment of the LORD, highlighting that rending clothes was an expression of grief inappropriate for priests in that specific context Leviticus 10:6.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6533 is tied to the concepts of holiness and separation in Levitical law.

  • A Sign of Uncleanness: For the leper, a rent garment was a mandated public sign of their affliction and separation from the community, alongside the cry of "Unclean, unclean" Leviticus 13:45.
  • A Mark of Priestly Sanctity: The prohibition against the high priest rending his clothes demonstrates that his holy office and consecrated garments were not to be subjected to common displays of grief. His role before God superseded personal expression Leviticus 21:10.
  • Submission to Divine Judgment: In the case of Aaron's sons, the command not to rend their clothes was an act of submission to God's wrath. It demonstrated that the holiness of the priesthood had to be maintained even in the face of immense personal loss and divine judgment Leviticus 10:6.

Summary

In summary, H6533 is a precise term used within the legal framework of Leviticus to govern the act of tearing clothing. While a rare word, its context reveals profound truths about ritual purity, grief, and the unique status of the priesthood. It shows how a physical act could serve as a powerful symbol, either as a required sign of separation for the unclean or as a forbidden act for those set apart for holy service to the LORD.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תִפְרֹמוּ
  • יִפְרֹם
  • פְרֻמִים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H899 בֶּגֶד from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, H6544 פָּרַע a primitive root; to loosen; by implication, to expose, dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin; avenge, avoid, bare, go b H3548 כֹּהֵן active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman H1058 בָּכָה a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn,

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

3 verses, all in Leviticus — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.